The game – St. Kilda 17.9 (111) d Fremantle 4.4 (28) at Docklands, Rd 4, 2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
The stats – 11 kicks, four handballs, five marks, three clearances and one goal
How had you prepared for this match during the week?
We had a six-day turnaround, so from that perspective it was a lighter week physiologically. There was a lot of rehab early of the week, which consisted of going to the pool, down to the beach and a few yoga sessions. But we had a keen focus early in the week to understand what happened against Adelaide and then switch our focus to St Kilda.
Do you have any superstitions or routine before running through the banner?
To be honest, I’ve never really agreed with them. Routines are good. I think it’s good for some to have something to focus on but I don’t really have any.
You gathered your teammates together at quarter time after the team had failed to kick a goal. What was your message to the troops?
We needed to take some risks. We were really stagnant in our ball movement going forward. Against a side like St Kilda, who push numbers back really well and suffocate your ball movement, we just needed to take the game on once we had the ball in our hands. The endeavor was there around the mark, however we probably needed to be a little bit better around the contests.
What plan did you have for Sam Fisher and the St Kilda defence?
There is always a significant amount of research and preparation going into the game. This week was no different. We understood they had a few players they like to release in their backline and we were pretty steadfast to make sure we could make them accountable as much as possible.
Out on the ground, do you feel the extra burden as captain of the club?
With the captaincy comes responsibility and making sure that your backyard is spot-on. I must lead by example and make sure I am demanding the best out of my teammates. There is an extra responsibility but I wouldn’t say it’s a burden.
How did you rate your game from a personal perspective?
Disappointing. I would have loved to have more of an impact. Obviously, we really found it hard to get the ball inside our 50m. There is no question I would have liked to play better than I did tonight.
What will be your plans for the day following the match?
We fly back to Perth on Sunday. We will have the normal rehab session tomorrow morning, review the injuries and then get back to Perth around lunchtime that day.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
